SPI 0401.3.7 (Identify the sentence irrelevant to a paragraph ’ s theme or flow.)

1. SPI 0401.3.7 (Identify the sentence irrelevant to a paragraph’s theme or flow.)

2. Explanation: Sometimes paragraphs contain sentences that have information that do not match its theme or interrupt its flow. These sentences are called irrelevant sentences.

3. Examples Please identify the irrelevant sentences. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in a log cabin in Kentucky. When he was a child, he moved to Indiana and as a young man moved to Illinois. While he was living in Illinois, he became a lawyer and served in the state House of Representatives. He later served in the U.S. House of Representatives and eventually ran for president. Abraham Lincoln wore a stovepipe hat. He was elected president in 1860 and led our country through the Civil War. Sadly, he was assassinated in April of 1865. Abraham Lincoln was very tall.

4. Answers These are the irrelevant sentences: Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in a log cabin in Kentucky. When he was a child, he moved to Indiana and as a young man moved to Illinois. While he was living in Illinois, he became a lawyer and served in the state House of Representatives. He later served in the U.S. House of Representatives and eventually ran for president. Abraham Lincoln wore a stovepipe hat. He was elected president in 1860 and led our country through the Civil War. Sadly, he was assassinated in April of 1865. Abraham Lincoln was very tall.

5. Examples Please identify the irrelevant sentences. Mr. Phillips is the principal of Lake Ridge School. He makes announcements every morning at 8:15 to greet all students and to get the day started. Mr. Phillips wears a tie and suit coat to school. Every morning he makes a quick visit to all the classes and usually waves to the students. Mr. Phillips also walks around in the cafeteria to make sure students are safe. He likes to eat tacos. He also directs traffic on the cross walk at the end of each day. Mr. Phillips has a busy job as principal at our school.

6. Answers These are the irrelevant sentences. Mr. Phillips is the principal of Lake Ridge School. He makes announcements every morning at 8:15 to greet all students and to get the day started. Mr. Phillips wears a tie and suit coat to school. Every morning he makes a quick visit to all the classes and usually waves to the students. Mr. Phillips also walks around in the cafeteria to make sure students are safe. He likes to eat tacos. He also directs traffic on the cross walk at the end of each day. Mr. Phillips has a busy job as principal at our school.

7. More activities A Dangerous Cook(1) When my friend Tom sets to work in the kitchen, disaster often results. (2) Once he tried to make toasted cheese sandwiches for us by putting slices of cheese in the toaster along with the bread; he ruined the toaster. (3) Unfortunately, the toaster was a fairly new one that I had just bought for him three weeks before, on his birthday. (4) On another occasion, he had cut up some fresh beans and put them in a pot to steam. (5) I was really looking forward to the beans, for I eat nothing but canned vegetables in my dormitory. (6) I, frankly, am not much of a cook either. (7) The water in the Teflon pan steamed away while Tom was on the telephone, and both the beans and the Teflon coating in the pan were ruined. (8) Finally, another time Tom made spaghetti for us, and the noodles stuck so tightly together that we had to cut off slices with a knife and fork. (9) In addition, The meatballs were burned on the outside but almost raw on the inside. (10) The tomato sauce, on the other hand, turned out well. (11) For some reason, Tom is very good at making meat and vegetables sauces. (12) Because of Tom's kitchen mishaps, I never eat at his place without an Alka-Seltzer in my pocket, or without money in case we have to go out to eat. The numbers of the irrelevant sentences are ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

8. Even more activities Why Adults Visit Amusement Parks(1) Adults visit amusement parks for several reasons. (2) For one thing, an amusement park is a place where it is acceptable to "pig-out" on junk food. (3) At the park, everyone is drinking soda and eating popcorn, ice-cream, or hot dogs. (4) No one seems to be on a diet, and so buying all the junk food you can eat is a guilt-free experience. (5) Parks should provide stands where healthier food, such as salads or cold chicken, would be sold. (6) Another reason people visit amusement parks is to prove themselves. (7) They want to visit the park that has the newest, scariest ride in order to say that they went on the Parachute Drop, the seven-story Elevator, the Water Chute, or the Death Slide. (8) Going on a scary ride is a way to feel courageous and adventurous without taking much of a risk. (9) Some rides, however, can be dangerous. (10) Rides that are not properly inspected or maintained have killed people all over the country. (11) A final reason people visit amusement parks is to escape from everyday pressures. (12) When people are poised at the top of a gigantic roller coaster, they are not thinking of bills, work, or personal problems. (13) A scary ride empties the mind of all worries--except making it to the bottom alive. (14) Adults at an amusement park may claim they have come for their children, but they are there for themselves as well. The numbers of the irrelevant sentences are ___ ___ ___

9. Even more activities My Color Television(1) My color television has given me nothing but heartburn. (2) I was able to buy it a little over a year ago because I had my relatives give me money for my birthday instead of clothes that wouldn't fit. (3) My first dose of stomach acid came when I bought the set. (4) I let a salesclerk fool me into buying a discontinued model . (5) I realized this a day later when I saw newspaper advertisements for the set at seventy-five dollars less than I had paid. (6) The set worked so beautifully when I got it home that I would keep it on until stations signed off for the night. (7) Fortunately, I didn't get any channels showing all- night movies, or I would never have gotten to bed. (8) Then I started developing a problem with the set that involved static noise. (9) For some reason, when certain shows switched into a commercial, a loud buzz would sound for a few seconds. (10) Gradually, this sound began to appear during a show, and to get rid of it, I had to click the dial to another channel and click it back. (11) Sometimes this technique would not work, and I had to pick up the set and shake it to remove the buzzing sound. (12) I actually began to build up my arm muscles shaking my set; I could feel the new muscles working whenever I shot a basketball. (13) When neither of these methods removed the static noise, I would sit popping Tums and wait for the sound to go away. (14) Eventually I wound up slamming the set with my hand again, and it stopped working altogether. (15) My trip to the repair shop cost me $62. (16) The set is working well now, but I keep expecting more trouble. The numbers of the irrelevant sentences are ___ ___ ___ ___

10. Quiz 1 Link to this site and take the quiz. Please write down the results on your index card. http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_79.htm

11. Quiz 2 Link to this site and take the quiz. Please write down the results on your index card. http://eps.emu.edu.tr/dept/mld/communications/writing_centre/paragraphs/ident_irresentences.htm

12. Master link for teachers http://www.internet4classrooms.com/grade_level_help/writing_irrelevant_sentences_language_arts_fifth_5th_grade.htm